Systematic radical species control by electron push–pull substitution in the perylene-based D–π–A compounds

(D–π–A)˙ − & (D–π–A)˙ + are generated in response to electrical stimulation. Unlike (D–π–A)˙ − , (D–π–A)˙ + shows a systematically controllable substituent effect by the DPA R group ranging from electron-withdrawing F to electron-donating OMe group.